Bracket for use with open display refrigerators
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Solution Overview
Problem
In open display refrigerators with sloped shelves, air guides attached to the shelves disrupt the air curtain flow and obstruct the view of products on lower shelves.
Innovation Solution
A bracket with a continuous member that offsets the attachment point of the air curtain guide from the edge of the shelf, allowing the guide to be positioned in alignment with the air curtain without obstructing the view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If air guides are attached to the edge of sloped shelves, then alignment with the air curtain is improved, but the view of products on lower shelves is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket extends the air guide attachment from the horizontal shelf edge into the vertical dimension by projecting downward. This allows the air guide to maintain proper alignment with the air curtain while being positioned low enough to not obstruct the customer's view of products on lower shelves.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket acts as an intermediary component between the shelf and the air guide. It provides a mounting structure that decouples the air guide's position from the shelf edge, allowing independent optimization of both the shelf design and the air guide alignment.
2Ease of operation
If risers extend vertically from angled shelves at 90° angles, then product display is improved, but the air curtain flow is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The solution applies different angular configurations to different components: the riser maintains its vertical orientation for display purposes, while the bracket and air guide are angled to match the shelf angle. This local differentiation allows each component to fulfill its primary function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket is designed with asymmetric geometry where one end attaches to the shelf at the shelf's angle while the other end extends vertically to hold the air guide. This asymmetric design resolves the conflict between the vertical requirement for display and the angular requirement for air curtain alignment.
Data Source
AI summary
A bracket for attaching an air curtain guide to a refrigerator shelf, the bracket comprising: a first end having a surface for engagement with an edge of a refrigerator shelf; a second end for coupling to an air curtain guide; wherein the first end is connected to the second end by a continuous member, such that the first end is offset from the second end in a first direction.